Eala Frya Fresena (East Frisian Low SaxonIPA:[ˈeːlaˈfrɪjaˈfreːzəna]) is the motto for thecoat of arms ofEast Frisia in northernGermany. The motto is often mistranslated as "Hail, free Frisians!", but it was the reversal of the feudal prostration and is better translated as "Stand up, free Frisians!".[1] According to 16th-century sources, it was spoken at theUpstalsboom inAurich where Frisian judges met onPentecost and it is traditionally answered withLever dood as Slaav, or inEnglish,rather dead than slaves.[2][unreliable source?]
The motto refers to the legendary "Frisian Freedom", a polity and right to accept no rule besides theHoly Roman Emperor and the Christian God. The right was in the Middle Ages supposed to have been granted byCharlemagne for Frisian support ofPope Leo IV (who was not contemporary with Charlemagne). It was said to have been renewed byCharles the Fat in 885 for saving him fromNormans. The Frisian freedom basically meant a claim of freedom from tax and fief, to defend themselves against theNormans,Vikings and thenorthern sea. Friesland offered unclaimed land for everyone, however the unclaimed land of the country was under water half of the day. The daily fight against the northern sea ensured equality of the people who were living onwarfs during this time. Tax and fief was therefore replaced by the duty to build dikes.
The number of Frisian sealands grew from the original seven up to 27 at their height in the early 14th century. Each Frisian sealand sent two judges duringPentecost to an annual meeting at theUpstalsboom, to discuss disputes between the tribes. Friesland had a nearly democratic government, unlike most of Europe during Middle Ages. While the judges had been delegated to rule legally, later on thehovedlinge had been self-elected by their wealth to rule the military. Several of them became known for supporting pirates to refinance their wealth. For example, the hoveling Keno ten Broke hosted the famousKlaus Störtebeker.[citation needed]
In the late Middle Ages,Friesland had no central government, but was ruled by either their local chieftains or changing foreign powers. The Frisians revolted often against the foreigners. The Stedinger revolt of 1233–34 causedPope Gregory IX to call a crusade against them, marking the decline of Frisian freedom. Frisian freedom officially ended in 1498 when EmperorMaximilian I gave Friesland as a fief toAlbert, Duke of Saxony to pay a 300,000-guilder debt, but Albert had to conquer Friesland himself first.
The band Eastfrisian Terror, fromEmden, Germany, released their debut EP "Lever Dood As Slav", the third song of which was titledEala Frya Fresena.[3]